Conexus Indiana today released "Future Ready: Advancing Indiana's Productivity Through Critical Manufacturing Subsectors," a comprehensive report identifying the advanced manufacturing subsectors and roles that hold the greatest potential to drive Indiana's future productivity and competitiveness. 

The report zeroes in on four critical subsectors—aerospace, automotive, life sciences and microelectronics manufacturing—and the high-impact roles that will be essential to their success. These subsectors make up more than 45% of Indiana's manufacturing GDP and 31% of industry jobs, underscoring their outsized role in shaping the economic future of the industry.  

"Future Ready analyzes the subsectors that are especially well positioned to shape Indiana's productivity in manufacturing," said Jay Wirts, CEO and President of Conexus Indiana. "By focusing on these high impact subsectors—and within them, accelerating technology adoption and building a strong pipeline of critical talent, Indiana can unlock the next wave of manufacturing productivity and cement its leadership in Industry 4.0.” 

Key Findings 

The report's analysis revealed that Indiana's advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) sector—which represents 25% of the state's workforce and 37% of GDP—is undergoing significant transformation driven by substantial investments in automation, robotics and digital adoption.  

Further analysis found notable overlap in the types of roles deemed most critical to the continued success of these subsectors. This alignment presents a strategic opportunity: by prioritizing training for high-impact roles shared across industries, Indiana can maximize the return on workforce development investments. These roles were identified based on several factors, including whether they are considered “tech-enabling,” or positions that directly support digital adoption or accelerate the implementation of advanced technologies. 

Key findings for each critical subsector include: 

• Aerospace: Indiana's aerospace industry pairs a long-standing legacy in production with a growing need for advanced engineering talent. With 7,397 jobs and 37% tech-enabled positions, the sector demands both traditional skills in machining and assembly alongside rising demand for software engineers, simulation specialists and cybersecurity experts. 
• Automotive: The state's automotive sector is simultaneously reinforcing core strength in internal combustion engine production while accelerating toward an electric future. With 136,523 jobs and over $12.9 billion in EV-related investments, essential roles span from foundational positions in welding, machining and assembly to emerging demand for robotics engineers, data scientists and battery specialists. 
• Life Sciences: Bringing together high-value pharmaceutical, medical device and ag-bioscience production, Indiana's life sciences manufacturers employ 41,609 people with 21% in tech-enabled roles. The sector demands specialized talent in biomanufacturing, data science and automation, reflecting a shift toward highly digital, process-intense operations. 
• Microelectronics: Indiana's fastest-emerging manufacturing subsector employs 11,142 people with 34% in tech-enabling jobs. High-demand roles include semiconductor engineers, electrical engineers, electronics assemblers, and positions spanning R&D, defense applications, medical devices and automotive technology integration. This heavy concentration of tech-enabled positions signals significant productivity potential as Indiana builds out its hard tech economy. 

Notably, production and logistics roles account for 63% of annual openings across subsectors, while tech-enabling roles in greatest demand include automation technicians, robotics engineers, software engineers and data scientists. 

"Shared talent demands require united solutions," said Bryce Carpenter, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Conexus. "Rather than compete, these industries can collaborate to build a shared pipeline where training once can serve many. Joint investment accelerates growth and collaboration breeds resilience." 

The report emphasizes that if these sectors co-invest in workforce development, they won't just fill jobs—they'll build a future-ready workforce that powers sustained, statewide innovation. 

Future Ready serves as a roadmap for maintaining Indiana's competitive edge in manufacturing while addressing the persistent labor market and skills gaps that could constrain future growth. By continuing to prioritize investment in these critical subsectors —and simultaneously developing the tech-enabling workforce these sectors require—Indiana can accelerate technology adoption, boost productivity and cement its leadership in Industry 4.0. 

The full "Future Ready" report is available here.